The Ottawa free trader., 1887-03-19
Ilacc. Reading War News.

Scene In Country Village Reading War News
army was the largest and in every way the
most complete OF any under WashinCtOn's
immediate command during the revolution
ary war, and in ten days time compelled
the surrender OF CORVALLIS and his eight
thousand troops, and thus conquered the
independence Of the colonies.
General Scott terminated the Mexican
war, and triumphantly entered the City of
Mexico with less than eleven thousand men.
But the war of the rebellion had con-
tinued only few months when Lincoln
found need for many more soldiers and was
severely criticised for not making his first
call much larger. That call was for three
mont g. men, as the belief then prevailed
that the war would last only short time
and amount to only "brcakfdN'-sPeN," " TO
use favorte phrase OF that day.
Tho free States responded TO the Presi-
dents call for troops with alacrlty and
filed their quotas with commcndablo
promptness. Not so tho slave States,
most of these sent defiant replies to Presi-
dent Lincoln; even little Delaware re.
spondcd through its Governor that: There
was no organized militia in the State AMI
no law authorizing such orgarization."
A reply that implied indlH 5ronce to say
the best OF IT,
Through it's executive, Claiborne F.
Jackson, another slave State pronounced
"the call illegal, unconstitutional and rev.
olutiouary; its objects to be inhuman aud
diahohcal and would not be compiled with
by Missouri"
Governor Magoflin sail Kentucky would
furnish no troops for the wicked purpose
of subduiug the South" The papers Of the
time commented freely upon these defiant
responses.
IN the little county wherein the writer
dwclt, company of volunteers was
promptly enlisted. At this time the writer,
not vet eighteen years of age, did not feel
called upon to enlist in his country's sery-
ice, but passed the spring AMI summer Of
| 1851 peacefully following the plow
With him, in the early spring for some
weeks at tho same farm house, were five
young men, a jolly, merry, light-hcarted
lot of fellows, mono of whom were beyond
| twenty five years OF age.
Two of the number, brothers, Charley
and Tied were vigorous, bright, good
natured, clear skinned young Englishmcn,
with Just enough broguc in their speech TO
excite interest
| Charley, the younger of the brothers, had
bright black eyes, played the violin skill
fully, was brim full OF fun and was the
life, wag and jolliest member Of a jolly lot.
Jack" a third one of the number, was
noted for good nature and dry wit.
| Although they all followed the plow
'from sun-up till sundown," seldom were
they too tired to assemble on the back
porch of evenings after supper, crack
jokes, sing merry songs and listen, while
Charley worked from his fiddle such old
time pieces as FISHERS Hornpipe," "Ar
kansaw Traveller" BUY Broom" "Buf
falo Girls" etc, and sometimes upon such
occasions with the two or three girls abcu,
the house, cotillion dance was improvised
in the kitchen.
As the war progressed, all these youns
men joined the army, and brief summary
Of their history, as illustrative Of the fort
une OF war, may not be uninteresting
Charley, five months after enlistment, wa,